Paris Photo enjoys a great comeback for its 2024 edition at the Grand Palais. After years of renovation this spectacular venue serves again as the perfect backdrop for one of the most prestigious photography art fairs worldwide. Gagosian Gallery stands out among the top booths of the fair with a presentation curated by Tyler Mitchell – initiating a lively dialogue between Mitchell’s own works and iconic photographs by Richard Avedon (1923 -2004).

The presentation is anchored around Avedon’s works from the 1960’s combined with a selection of Mitchell’s photographs from the past six years including some of them being exhibited for the first time.

Avedon and Mitchell are a perfect match as both artists best express themselves through portraiture. They both explore themes of identity, ritual and belonging, with a shared interest in the role of dress and ceremony in expressing pride. Also the role of traditions as a marker of identity across generations is addressed.

Mitchell undoubtedtly adds contemporary vibe to this artistic couple and activates Avedon’s classic masterpieces in a refreshing way. Regarded as one of the leading voices of today’s photography community Mitchell brings a unique vision and convincingly fills the creative space he’s been offered through this curatorial debut.

Inspiration for that specific configuration came when Tyler Mitchell selected Avedon’s 1946 mirror self-portrait with James Baldwin to hang in the Avedon 100 centennial exhibition held at Gagosian New York in 2023. That intimate image of their friendship finally set the tone for an exchange in which Mitchell explores how photography tells the stories of those who shape our world. 

For Avedon, the 1960s were a period of deepening social engagement that he would continue through the rest of his life. Central to this era is his groundbreaking collaboration with James Baldwin on Nothing Personal (1964), a book that pairs Baldwin’s words and Avedon’s photographs, offering powerful reflections on race, identity, and society.

Avedon’s work from this period also holds particular significance for Mitchell, as it reflects how Avedon captured both famous and ordinary individuals, weaving together a complex portrait of the people and cultures that shape American society.

Similar to Avedon’s approach, the balance between elegance, humanism, and social commentary is also a driving theme in Tyler Mitchell’s practice. He is renowned for his vibrant, playfully theatrical compositions that foreground the style and beauty of Black subjects. He draws form fine-art photography, fashion and filmmaking to create works that offer utopian visions of empowerment, self-determination, tenderness and camaraderie.

Cover: Richard Avedon, The Generals of the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Convention, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., October 15, 1963 © The Richard Avedon Foundation

PARIS PHOTO 2024
GAGOSIAN GALLERY
BOOTH B22
“AVEDON & ME” Curated by Tyler Mitchell
NOVEMBER 6–10, 2024, GRAND PALAIS, PARIS
https://gagosian.com

MORE: VIDEO & SHORT ON RICHARD AVEDON
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uBi-SZtgaX4
https://youtu.be/BbqerNjfG6s?feature=shared

.

---

.